Peter Morelli in 080217 Mechanical Music Digest:

> I just purchased a new PianoDisc iQ system which uses a iPod
> as the storage and "player" of PianoDisc music.
>
> I was wondering if MIDI format 0 music can be properly converted
> and played via this iPod?  Any help would be appreciated as I'd
> like to build my library beyond the free complimentary music
> provided with the system.

A Windows software utility I wrote, MID2PianoCD, can perform the
necessary encoding from MIDI files (type 0 or 1) to the PianoDisc
"analog MIDI" format used by the iQ.  You can find it here:

   http://dp70.dyndns.org/mid2pianocd/

For each MIDI file, MID2PianoCD produces a specially-encoded WAV file
which you can then compress to MP3 format and store on the iPod.

> I'm interested in finding out what other sources might exist for
> this system, e.g., Yamaha Disklavier, etc.

I believe PianoDisc systems can also play QRS Pianomation CDs (which
could be ripped, compressed and stored on the iPod), but I don't know
for certain that the iQ supports Pianomation format.  I am pretty sure
that Yamaha Disklavier CDs are not currently supported.

> If not directly compatible, are there software packages available
> which can translate one to the other?

Although this is technically possible, I am not aware of any existing
tools to convert from one CD format to another.

I suggest that you join the Yahoo group "PianoDiscUser", an online
discussion group for PianoDisc owners:

  http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/PianoDiscUser/

That group is frequented by PianoDisc owners, technicians, and
employees.  You may have better luck there than posting to the
Mechanical Music Digest, where the discussion tends to focus on
traditional pneumatic player piano technology.

Mark Fontana